Monday, June 24, 2024

06/24 Links Pt2: The U.N.’s Latest Insult Against Israel May Be Its Worst; Where Are the Celebrities After the Assault on Jews in LA?; Media ‘Both Sides’ Anti-Israel Mob Attack

From Ian:

The U.N.’s Latest Insult Against Israel May Be Its Worst
Sympathy for Israel has long been in short supply at the United Nations, but the world body has outdone itself this time.

That’s really saying something, considering its disgraceful treatment of Israel over the past eight months. After the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas resulted in over 1,100 deaths and hundreds raped and taken hostage, Israel rightly declared its intent to destroy those responsible and rescue the hostages. Yet virtually every day since, the U.N. seemingly has done everything possible to protect Hamas from the consequences of its barbaric acts.

Now U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has listed “Israeli armed and security forces” alongside repressive governments and terrorist groups guilty of “grave violations affecting children” in conflict in 2023.

Yes, in the immediate aftermath of October 7, the United Nations condemned the attack in the “strongest terms.” But before the calendar turned to November, the secretary-general was saying the attacks didn’t happen in a “vacuum,” U.N. experts were voicing alarm at the plight of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza, and the General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a “sustained humanitarian truce.”

After that came U.N. accusations that Israel was causing starvation, accusations of war crimes, giving the Palestinians elevated privileges in the General Assembly, echoing Hamas’s false casualty data, and a U.S.-sponsored Security Council resolution designed to pressure Israel into supporting a cease-fire that would ensure the survival of Hamas.

Through this process, the U.N. member states refused to adopt resolutions condemning Hamas for its terrorism. Over and over, U.N. officials have neglected to properly place blame for the conflict and suffering on Hamas. For instance, a U.N. commission of inquiry report just declared that both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes since October 7, but that Israel also committed crimes against humanity against the civilian population in Gaza.

Ignored is the fact that Hamas instigated the conflict, uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, steals aid meant to relieve suffering, and perpetuates the fighting by refusing to release the hostages. The report from a U.N. commission of inquiry even outrageously blames Israel for not stopping the October 7 attack and protecting its citizens.

While the death toll in Gaza is tragic, it is the intent of Hamas to place civilians in harm’s way. Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar recently stated his belief that more civilian casualties help Hamas undermine Israel internationally and considers them “necessary sacrifices.” Where is the U.N. condemnation of this callous disregard for Palestinian civilians?

Indeed, Israel can do nothing right in the eyes of the U.N. Even rescuing hostages from Hamas is deemed lamentable. Just see the reaction of U.N. Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese to the June 8 rescue of four hostages. She said that the rescue “should not have come at the expense of at least 200 Palestinians, including children, killed and over 400 injured by Israel and allegedly foreign soldiers, while perfidiously hiding in an aid truck.”

And now we have the latest insult, with Guterres, for the first time, listing Israeli armed and security forces alongside the armed forces of Burma, Russia, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen, and terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, the Lord’s Resistance Army, and the Taliban as parties that “commit grave violations affecting children in situations of armed conflict.”
In San Francisco, Doctors Feud Over ‘Do No Harm’ When It Comes to War Protests
Dr. Kanal has dozens of relatives living in Israel, including one who hid from Hamas for hours at a music festival on the day of the attack and another who works in forensics and had to identify the bodies of dead children. His grandfather survived the Auschwitz concentration camp, with his forearm branded by the Nazis.

Soon after he sent the email questioning a cease-fire resolution, Dr. Kanal learned that someone had forwarded it to another U.C.S.F. doctor, Rupa Marya, who practices internal medicine and said she focuses on how history and power affect health. She criticized his email on X multiple times over several months without naming him.

But later, in a Substack post, Dr. Marya did refer to him by name and called his email an “expression of anti-Arab hate” that prompted doctors of South Asian and North African descent “to say they do not feel safe in his presence.”

Dr. Kanal said that he was shocked a colleague with whom he had never spoken had blasted him so publicly. He met with university leaders multiple times, but he said they took no action. He then filed a complaint with the school’s Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, which responded that Dr. Marya’s speech was protected and closed the complaint.

“It’s not the words of my colleague that leave me feeling unwelcome and frankly unsafe here at work,” Dr. Kanal said. “It’s the persistent unwillingness of my leaders to clearly denounce them and ensure my inclusion in this broad community here at U.C.S.F.”

The university did respond to a different post by Dr. Marya. In January, she said on X that “the presence of Zionism in U.S. medicine should be examined as a structural impediment to health equity” as she shared another person’s post about being “terrified” for “Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, South Asian and Black patients” being treated by Zionist doctors and nurses.

The university, without naming Dr. Marya or quoting her post, said in a statement that the notion that Zionist doctors are a threat to their patients was both antisemitic and “a tired and familiar racist conspiracy theory.”

In a written response, Dr. Marya said the statement by U.C.S.F. that addressed her post was “a disingenuous attempt to silence perspectives they don’t like” and that she has never felt, in her 22 years on the job, “the kind of repression” that she has since Oct. 7.

She said she called out Dr. Kanal because his email was the first time she had heard “a doctor put forward an argument to continue the killing of innocent people.”

“It shocked me to see this and it is a violation of a fundamental ethical cornerstone of our profession to do no harm,” she wrote.

If the doctors can agree on anything, it is that the university administrators have done too little to quell tensions and address complaints.

A U.C.S.F. spokeswoman, Kristen Bole, said the university and medical center are working hard to ensure a healing environment for its patients and respect the free speech rights of its employees. She said that Sam Hawgood, the chancellor who oversees both the school and hospital, has convened meetings with faculty to hear their concerns and has issued public statements denouncing intolerance several times.

She declined to address the specifics of how U.C.S.F. has addressed particular complaints. Mr. Hawgood declined a request for an interview.

Rick Sheinfield, a Jewish lawyer who has seen doctors at U.C.S.F. for 30 years, said that he filed a complaint with U.C.S.F. in January over Dr. Marya’s posts. He was told in April that his case was closed with no action taken.

He said that he and his family have received excellent medical care there — from heart surgery to the births of his two children. He is unsure if he will remain a patient, but said he was certain of one thing: If he was starting to look for medical care in San Francisco now, he would strike U.C.S.F. from his list.

It was not so much the posts of one doctor that bothered him, he said, but what he saw as indifference from the larger community.

“I don’t think they would tolerate this if it were medical conspiracy theories alleging such hateful things about other groups,” he said. “But they are tolerating this.”


Where Are the Celebrities After Public Assault on Jews in Los Angeles?
On Sunday, we saw pro-Hamas protestors physically attack Jews in front of a Los Angeles synagogue, as they called for genocide and violence.

We have long heard that Jews control Hollywood, but many Jewish celebrities have been completely silent about the growing attacks against Jews, not to mention the situation in Israel.

I wish Jewish celebrities had half the courage to speak out for Jews and Israel as random influencers do, with posts about “All Eyes on Rafah” and other supposed injustices.

Furthermore, when Jews do speak out, they often do so in a half-hearted way, in order to protect their fan base.

Ben Stiller recently came out in public saying that all wars should end, and that he wants peace. Stiller continued, “Antisemitism must be condemned whenever it happens and wherever it exists. As should Islamophobia and bigotry of all kinds.”

It seems like Stiller is apologizing for even speaking out. He can’t just oppose hatred against Jews and Israelis, without implying that attacks on Muslims are happening at a similar level (they are not; almost every domestic act of violence about Israel has been Muslims and other people attacking Jews).

The evening of the Academy Awards was another prime example of what’s wrong. Hollywood stars, including singer Billie Eilish, actor Mark Ruffalo, director Ava DuVernay and many others, wore pro-Palestinian pins or spoke about the Palestinian cause. There was largely silence from our Jewish brethren, who supposedly control Hollywood.

Others like Adam Sandler have made vague comments about antisemitism and Israel, while others such as Seth Rogen and Ilana Glazer are actively saying things against Israel.

There have been a handful of Jewish celebrities who have spoken out since October 7th. Michael Rappaport, Jerry Seinfeld, Debra Messing, Tiffany Kaddish, Mayim Bialik, Montana Tucker, and others have bravely made their voices heard — but that number should be in the hundreds.
Media ‘Both Sides’ Anti-Israel Mob Attack on Los Angeles Synagogue
The footage is as clear as day: a mob of anti-Israel protesters, some with keffiyehs and black masks wrapped around their faces, assaulting visibly observant Jews and clashing with riot police.

In one clip posted on the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter), a visibly observant Jew is attacked, and in another, several men in skullcaps try to pull one of the rioters away from an ultra-Orthodox man.

A journalist on the scene described Jews being sprayed with pepper spray, and another recounted seeing “Jews being pushed down and beaten bloody in the street.”

Armed with sticks and waving PLO flags, the group massed outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles for their anti-Israel rally on Sunday.

Reports suggest the location was chosen because it was hosting an Israeli real estate fair. But it’s clear most of the mob was there because it was a synagogue—evident when the keffiyeh-clad crew linked arms around the building to prevent synagogue attendees from entering.

California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the disturbing scenes. “The violent clashes outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles are appalling. There is no excuse for targeting a house of worship,” he posted on X, adding: “Such antisemitic hatred has no place in California.”

California Congressman Ted Lieu also commented, describing the incident as antisemitic and calling for the prosecution of those who targeted the synagogue.

Yet, for reasons unknown, much of the media was quick to “both sides” the attack, characterizing the incident as anything but exactly what it was: an antisemitic attack by a baying anti-Israel mob.


JPost Editorial: Armenia, recognizing Palestine as a state is not a good way to bring peace
Notably, political ties between Armenia and Iran are growing increasingly robust, extending beyond typical neighbourly relations. Recently, Iranian media reported that Armenia plans to construct a new highway connecting to Iran. Additionally, Armenia has signed an arms deal with India, stipulating that the arms will be transported to Armenia through Iran. In 2023, reports surfaced indicating the presence of Iranian soldiers in Armenia, positioned along its border with Azerbaijan, and the Islamic Republic has also been accused of using Armenia as a transport hub for suicide drones it is transferring to Russia for use in the Ukraine war.

Such activities make Armenia a questionable bedfellow for Israel.

And then there is the antisemitism. According to the ADL’s 2014 Global 100 report, 1.3 million Armenians, out of a then-population of 2.2 million harbored antisemitism attitudes. A staggering 59% of the population.

On New Year’s Day, the capital Yerevan was host to a serious incident when a group of neo-Nazis paraded down the streets with flags displaying stylized swastikas.

The movement in question is the Husnak movement, a nationalist movement whose website praises Hitler and contains antisemitic caricatures and articles calling for the deportation of Jews, and for the “exposure of their activities towards children.”

Since October 7, Mordechai Nawi Synagogue, Yerevan’s only synagogue, has been attacked multiple times, including last week. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli responded that, “We view these grave antisemitic incidents in Yerevan, Armenia, most seriously.

“Since the arms deal between Israel and Azerbaijan, antisemitic attacks in Armenia have become more evident. There has been increased desecration of Jewish symbols, like the desecration of the monument in memory of victims of the Holocaust, and the attack on the synagogue.”

What does Armenia's choice mean?
Armenia’s decision to recognize Palestine as a state could be viewed as reflective of the underlying antisemitic sentiments within these segments of Armenian society, suggesting a political alignment that contrasts with the interests of Israel and the Jewish community in the Diaspora.

“The Republic of Armenia has joined the resolutions of the UN General Assembly calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry statement continued, after the statehood announcement.

“Furthermore, the Republic of Armenia is genuinely committed to establishing peace and stability in the Middle East and lasting reconciliation between the Jewish and Palestinian peoples.”

If the Armenians are as genuinely committed to establishing peace and stability as they state, maintaining such close ties with Iran, and rewarding Hamas, a terrorist organization with statehood as a prize for kidnapping innocent Israeli men, women, and children from their homes, is not the way to go about it.
Cuba Joins South Africa’s ICJ Case Against Israel
Cuba announced its decision to co-sponsor South Africa’s case against Israel in the the International Court of Justice.

The statement carried by national media in the isolated socialist island country said Havana’s measure aims at “stopping the atrocities against the Palestinian people as a result of Israel’s disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force.”

South Africa accuses Israel of “genocide” in the war conducted by the Jewish state against the Palestinian jihadists of Hamas in Gaza; the conflict was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 incursion into Israel, during which the terrorists butchered over 1,200 Israelis and took captive over 250 others.

Israel and the United States reject the accusation of “genocide,” saying it represents an antisemitic blood libel and an inversion of reality.
Palestinian Convert to Judaism: Violence is Incentivized in the Arab World | The Quad
This week, the Quad (Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Emily Schrader and guest host Chama Mechtoly) discusses the moral equivalence being made by the UN, the Biden administration and the international community between Hamas and Israel and between Jewish and Arab extremism.

They interview Timur-David Aklin, a Palestinian born convert to Judaism, to get an inside look at what Palestinian society is like. He points to the violence and extremism that is not only tolerated in Arab society, but encouraged and incentivized. He describes his amazing and terrifying journey from being an Israeli-Arab Muslim in Jaffa to a religious Zionist Israeli Jew.

And, of course, scumbags and heroes with special guest American comedian Chani Lisbon!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:54 The immoral equivalence of Hamas & Israel
12:24 Interview with Timor-David Aklin
27:47 Special Guest Comedian Chani Lisbon!
29:20 Scumbags of the Week: Ilana Glazer, Cenk Uygur, Bella Hadid, and Rachel Gelman
38:28 Heroes of the Week: Natasha Hausdorff, Quentin Tarantino, Rachel Edry, Michael Douglas


White House associate comms director decries past anti-Israel remarks
After previous antisemitic posts of his came to light on Sunday, Tyler Cherry, the new White House associate communications director, posted that “past social media posts from when I was younger do not reflect my current views. Period.”

“I support this administration’s agenda—and will continue my communications work focused on our climate and environmental policies,” Cherry wrote.

Eitan Fischberger, an Israel-based Middle East analyst and writer, posted several of Cherry’s prior comments, including ones that Fischberger said demonstrate that the White House staffer “wants to stop weapons sales to Israel” and “adores antisemites.”

Posts of Cherry’s refer to Linda Sarsour, an activist who has long been accused of Jew-hatred, as “a fierce Muslim woman at the helm of the resistance.” He also referred to the “occupation of Palestine” and posted “free Palestine.”

“Why does the Biden administration think it’s ok to hire and elevate virulently anti-Israel staffers?” wrote the Republican Jewish Coalition. “It’s no wonder the White House continues to undermine the Jewish state.”

Phil Wegmann, the White House reporter at RealClearPolitics, wrote that Cherry posted “comparing police to slave patrols, calling for abolition of ICE, support for Palestine.” (ICE is the federal agency U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.)

StopAntisemitism called on U.S. President Joe Biden “to immediately reverse course on the hiring of Tyler Cherry and do a better job vetting the personnel he brings into his orbit.”
Washington congressional candidate fires campaign manager over pro-Hamas social media activity
Washington State Sen. Emily Randall, one of two leading Democratic candidates in the state’s 6th Congressional District, fired her campaign manager last week after Jewish Insider contacted her campaign about the individual’s extensive anti-Israel and pro-Hamas social media activity.

Randall is running for the seat of retiring Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), a centrist who is supporting Randall’s Democratic opponent, Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz.

Randall’s now-former campaign manager, Anna Carlson-Ziegler, has a history of liking extreme anti-Israel posts on Instagram, according to screenshots viewed by JI.

Those included posts describing “Palestinian resistance as a natural and praiseworthy response to Zionist occupation and brutality,” posts describing Hamas as “the Palestinian resistance” and praising its continued survival, repeated calls for “the fall of the Zionist regime,” a post mourning the death of convicted terrorist and murderer Walid Daqqa and an Oct. 7 post denying that the attack by “Palestinian militants” was unprovoked.

Other posts Carlson-Ziegler liked included ones dismissing or denying the atrocities on Oct. 7 as propaganda, describing President Joe Biden as a war criminal and supporting various acts of vandalism and blockages of university, private and public property by anti-Israel demonstrators.

Randall said she wasn’t aware of Carlson-Ziegler’s activity until she was contacted by JI. Randall said she spoke to Carlson-Ziegler and, upon “confirming social media activity consistent with what you described, I made the decision to end their employment with our campaign.” Carlson-Ziegler did not respond to a request for comment.

Randall sought to distance herself from the views expressed by her former staffer, adding that she has been unequivocal that she “will stand with Israel against efforts to delegitimize or isolate Israel as a member of Congress,” stand against antisemitism and work closely with Jewish communities in Washington and locally to work toward a “shared vision of a more peaceful world.”

“As an LGBTQ+ person and the grandchild of people who left their home to find a place to live with less discrimination, I feel a great connection to Israel. Israel is the only country in the region where I could live openly with my wife, Alison,” Randall said. “Although my circumstances are quite different from many Israelis, I feel like I can understand that desire to find a safe harbor, and what Israel is and represents to Jewish people all over the world.”

She unequivocally condemned the Oct. 7 attack as “vicious, unprovoked, and unlawful,” adding that she “stands with Israel and the world” in wanting to see the hostages returned “and Hamas eradicated with no further loss of innocent life.”
‘The Squad’ and Media Cronies Are So Obsessed with Israel, & It’s Antisemitic
It’s hard pretending you aren’t antisemitic — even harder when you try to blame American supporters of the Jewish State for meddling in US elections. Further, arrogantly accusing Jewish Americans of corruption for exercising their constitutional right to vote and petition government reeks of antisemitism.

Naturally, it’s the exact thing that you would expect a member of Congress representing one of the most Jewish congressional districts in the country to avoid.

But far-left “Squad” member Jamaal Bowman (D) is unashamed as he makes this narrative part of his re-election bid for NY-16.

His constituents are doing the same. From Ilhan Omar, to Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, to Bernie Sanders and on, they have been furthering this narrative all over their X accounts.

And the mainstream media is playing along.

Media Claims ‘Israel’ is Top Reason for Progressive Pummeling
They are largely backing up the far-left’s narrative, covering this election as if the central issue in this midterm election primary is Israel.

According to polling done by Emerson College, Americans prioritize domestic policies such as the economy and housing affordability by far. Policy on Israel does not even rank in the top six.

This attempt to single out Zionist Americans (both Jewish and non-Jewish) who believe that a strong US-Israel bond is in the US’ best interest, is antisemitic.

The Anti-Defamation League says antisemitism “sometimes targets Jews not as individuals but as a collective — whether that’s Jewish organizations, movements like Zionism or the Jewish State of Israel.”

One example is The Guardian’s “Pro-Israel US groups plan $100m effort to unseat progressives over Gaza”, which claims that Israel is a top issue in the primaries, and supports placing blame on pro-Israel groups’ funding. It’s saying that ‘progressives’ have rallied the masses to fight back against pro-Israel support.

Progressive leaders have made clear that they will not go down without a fierce fight, and outrage over the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, has rallied supporters to push back against pro-Israel lobbying groups. The unexpected strength of the “uncommitted” primary campaign in states such as Michigan and Minnesota has underscored that Gaza is weighing heavily on the minds of progressive voters this election cycle, and their mobilization could complicate campaign efforts by groups like Aipac.

The Washington Post reports that despite the heavy media emphasis on Michigan and Minnesota, uncommitted votes in 2024 were “proportionally” less than in 2012.

The media have covered these progressive claims as though they are gospel, with no regard for factual evidence. The agenda was set and they’ve just been playing along. That’s not responsible journalism.

One of the most highly-covered 2024 house primaries is happening in The Bronx and Westchester (NY-16) district, which has one of the largest concentrations of Jews.

Politico’s “Jamaal Bowman’s challenger is the Cher of suburban New York” has also described county executive George Latimer (D)’s policies on Israel and his financial backers as advantageous over the incumbent Bowman.

The bitter Democratic primary between Bowman and Latimer — one of the country’s most competitive this cycle — will test the influence of a movement politician pushing ultra-progressive national policies against a longtime local leader leveraging both his AIPAC support and his considerable community connections.

Two democrats are pitted against each other in a narrative only one of them asked for. It’s obvious why.
In closing arguments, Bowman leans in on extreme rhetoric toward Israel
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) turned up the heat in his closing arguments to supporters at a sweltering campaign rally in the South Bronx on Saturday, during which he uncorked a profanity-laden tirade against AIPAC, accused his primary challenger of supporting genocide in Gaza and reiterated his call for a cease-fire, which he has defiantly embraced as one of his top issues in Tuesday’s primary election.

The weekend rally, joined by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), was held outside Bowman’s district, which covers Westchester County and a small portion of the North Bronx. The location choice underscored how Bowman, an embattled two-term incumbent, appears to have cut his losses in seeking to court key constituencies at the end of a bruising primary that polling has shown he is likely to lose.

It also demonstrated how Bowman, 48, is leaning into his extreme positions and caustic rhetoric in the final days of a closely watched race against George Latimer, the popular Westchester County executive who is leading by double digits, according to polls.

Latimer, a 70-year-old Democrat, has gained widespread support from the district’s sizable and politically engaged Jewish community, leading members of which had urged him to mount his challenge as Bowman grew increasingly hostile to Israel in the months following Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attacks.

The race has drawn millions in outside spending from pro-Israel political groups such as AIPAC, which also encouraged Latimer to run. Its super PAC has been hammering Bowman on the airwaves in what has now become one of the most expensive House primaries in history. The barrage of attacks has infuriated Bowman and his far-left allies, who have charged that AIPAC’s efforts are subverting democracy with backing from the right-wing donor class.

“They have already lost, because the district, the world and the American people are with us,” Bowman exclaimed on Saturday in a public park that sits outside his district. “They are in this race because we call for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, and we’re going to keep calling for a permanent cease-fire.”

Leading attendees in a chant for a “cease-fire now,” Bowman insisted that he would “not stand silent while U.S. tax dollars kill babies and women and children,” accusing Latimer of supporting what the congressman has frequently called a genocide in Gaza.


Stanford University Committee Releases Report on ‘Widespread and Pervasive’ Campus Antisemitism
Stanford University in California has found itself embroiled in controversy after a university-commissioned task force revealed widespread antisemitism on campus following Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel.

The Subcommittee on Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias published a 148-page report on Thursday detailing a toxic environment for Jewish and Israeli students at the elite university. The 12-member committee argued that Jewish and Israeli students at Stanford have endured exclusion and harassment on the Palo Alto campus since October.

“Some of this bias is expressed in overt and occasionally shocking ways,” the report read, “but often it is wrapped in layers of subtlety and implication, one or two steps away from blatant hate speech.”

In several instances, the degree of antisemitism was so overwhelming that Jewish students decided to leave their residence halls. The report found that some Stanford Jews had their mezuzahs — small parchment scrolls containing Hebrew verses from the Torah that members of the Jewish community fix to their doorposts — ripped down from their doors. Others claimed to find swastikas scribbled on their doors.

Jewish students also reported having their residences vandalized with the phrases “Free Palestine” or “F—k Zionism.” In some cases, residential assistants (RAs) posted virulently antisemitic and anti-Israel content on their social media pages, fostering a “culture of fear and suppression” for Jewish students, according to the report. Some RAs have gone as far as to encourage students to participate in anti-Israel protests and encampments on campus.

Stanford faculty and staff have sounded alarms over the allegedly rampant and unchecked antisemitic rhetoric and behaviors on campus. Though Stanford faculty have overwhelmingly expressed support for the free speech rights of anti-Israel protesters, many have lamented the ease with which some Stanford community members spew viciously antisemitic rhetoric on campus. One faculty member alleged in the report that a Stanford professor uses the word “Zionist” as a euphemism for Israelis, an act he claims should constitute “hate speech.”


Jewish college students suffer anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism on campus
Owen Alterman spoke to Jewish college students in the US, who reveal hardships faced since October 7 in the form of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism by peers and faculty


Dropping Charges Against Columbia Protesters is “Wrong,” Says Janitor
Nearly all of the Columbia students who were arrested a little over a month ago for breaking into and occupying Hamilton Hall had their charges dismissed on Thursday afternoon by the Manhattan district attorney.

The Free Press was in the courtroom as more than seventy supporters of the protesters—students, faculty members, and others donning keffiyehs, masks, and custom-made “Hind’s Hall” crop tops—filed in.

“We were unable to establish that these defendants caused property damage or bodily harm,” Assistant District Attorney Stephen Millan told the judge before he moved to drop the charges against thirty Columbia students and faculty who were arrested and charged after violently taking over Hamilton Hall on the evening of April 30 with hammers and zip ties.

They each were facing at least one charge of criminal trespass—a misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. After less than thirty minutes inside the courtroom, they were walking out scot-free.

One person baffled by the decision was Lester Wilson, one of the janitors inside Hamilton Hall that night, who previously told The Free Press he thought he “could have been killed in there.” He called the prosecutor’s decision to dismiss the cases “wrong.”

“If they got dismissed and no charges were being brought, I feel it’s wrong, I feel it’s wrong, I feel it’s wrong,” he said. “Somebody should be charged. Somebody should be held accountable. I'm not saying jail time, but not dismissed. You should be found guilty.”

“We as the workers, y’all violated us,” he added. “Y’all really violated us, keeping us in that building, by taking over that building, you affected all our lives.”


Lawyer for UC Berkeley arson suspect decries 'political investigation,' says client was targeted for 'beliefs in a free Palestine'
The lawyer for a man accused of firebombing a University of California, Berkeley, police cruiser and the arson of several campus areas says the investigation into his client is “political.”

Cal Fire announced on Monday the arrest of Casey Robert Goonan of Oakland, CA in connection with three arson attacks and the firebombing of a UC Berkeley Police Department vehicle in June.

Officials arrested Goonan on Monday and he was initially charged with felony counts of possession and use of destructive devices and multiple counts of arson.

He’s being held on a bond of $1 million at the Alameda County Jail.

Jeff Wozniak, Goonan’s attorney, told Campus Reform on Wednesday that the Alameda District Attorney hasn’t yet filed charges, but said the investigation thus far has been political.

”This is a political investigation. It is an investigation focused on Mr. Goonan’s political beliefs in a free Palestine and against the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” Wozniak said.

Wozniak said the search warrant “specifically sought ‘documents related to the conflict between Israel and Palestine,’” which he contends illustrates “that this is an investigation to place blame on Mr. Goonan because of his opposition to genocide and demand for a free Palestine.”

”If charges are filed, Mr. Goonans legal team will aggressively fight the charges. It is my hope, however, that Ms. Price does not engage in this political persecution, does not file charges and that Mr. Goonan is released from jail,” Wozniak said.

According to the San Francisco Standard, 34-year-old Goonan received a doctorate of African American studies from Northwestern University.

Goonan lives with his parents, whose home was raided at around 10 a.m. Monday morning by several law enforcement agencies including the FBI.

One bio from a 2018 academic journal states that Goonan “considers himself a scholar-activist” as well as an aspiring professor.

A 2019 bio stated that Goonan is an “abolitionist currently living and working in Chicago.”
Columbia SJP calls for alleged arsonist and firebomber Casey Goonan to be released from Jail: 'Resistance is Love'
Columbia University Students for Justice in Palestine shared an Instagram post by Columbia Apartheid Divest on Thursday, which called for Goonan to be released.

”This is a statement of support for Casey Goonan, accused of taking the rational action of targeting state infrastructure in defense of the 2 million Palestinians being targeted by the US funded, Israeli executed genocide in Gaza. They are currently held on $1M bail and are charged with a string of felonies, including arson,” the post stated. “Pro-Palestine groups in Berkeley have bravely and rightly claimed responsibility for the series of arsons for which Casey has been singularly and violently targeted. Desperate to deter effective action against genocide, Israeli-trained police forces raid and ransack houses of vocal abolitionists in an attempt to repress righteous resistance. They manufacture a case against select individuals, hoping to isolate them and drive the rest of the movement to fear necessary action, condemn it, and proceed with tame civic engagement.”

”The fires on UC campuses have been in direct response to the university’s violent police repression of their own students. The spark ignited on US campuses during the intifada of the last few months cannot be quelled, and further repression will only continue to transform these sparks into flames. The flames are small gestures that display the discontent of everyday people and the seriousness of their purpose: to end the genocide, liberate Palestine from the zionist occupation, and topple all institutions profiting from colonial, racial capitalism,” the group added.


Case Closed: USC Dismisses Complaints Against Professor Who Condemned Hamas
The University of Southern California has dismissed the complaints against economics Professor John Strauss over anti-Hamas comments he made at a pro-Palestine campus protest last November, the LA Times reports.

We covered the controversy over Strauss’s verbal clash with the demonstrators here.

Strauss, who said he heard the protesters at the November 9 rally shout “death to Israel,” told them they were all “really ignorant.” “Hamas are murderers,” he went on to say as he walked back from class. “That’s all they are. Every one of them should be killed, and I hope they all are.”

Strauss says his remarks were misrepresented in an online video that went viral that omitted his reference to Hamas, giving the impression he had called for the death of all Palestinians:

But an unedited version of Strauss’s exchange with the protesters was captured and posted at Annenberg Media. It includes his initial reference to Hamas—and puts his words back in their true context:

That context didn’t matter to the campus mob that coalesced to cancel Strauss the same day. What mattered is that he dared to challenge the protesters’ attack on the Jewish State. Within hours of the rally, students reportedly filed multiple complaints against him for discrimination and hate speech. And the next day, a student group filed a petition to terminate him.

USC then banned Strauss from campus for the rest of the semester, relegating him to teaching on Zoom. Though the school allowed him to return to school in December, he remained under investigation for discrimination and harassment over his remarks, an investigation that finally concluded last week, as reported in the LA Times:
USC administrators informed Strauss on Tuesday that the case against him was closed, the complaints by students would be dismissed and that he will face no formal discipline, according to the professor and his attorney.

Summarizing the probe’s findings, [Strauss’s lawyer] said USC determined it had insufficient evidence that he was deliberately targeting any student and that his words — uttered in the span of less than a minute — didn’t create a hostile environment.

But while Strauss’s ordeal is officially over, his lawyer, Samantha Harris, told the paper she was “’frustrated that it took seven months to reach an obvious conclusion’ that Strauss did not engage in harassment or discrimination”:


NJ school ‘at best careless’ in missing photos of Jewish students, review finds
The omission of a photo of the Jewish Student Union in a yearbook at East Brunswick High School in New Jersey was “not purposeful, but rather was a highly unfortunate error,” an independent review of the incident concludes.

The review, conducted by Yaacov Brisman, who runs an eponymous law firm, found no basis that the yearbook adviser “acted out of any animus, racial, religious or political, towards Jewish or Muslim students.”

Victor Valeski, superintendent of schools for East Brunswick, previously told CNN that “an initial internal investigation” found “at a minimum, gross [negligence] in the proof review procedure before going to print.”

Instead of the photograph of Jewish students, images of Muslim students ran in the yearbook in a section devoted to the Jewish Student Union.

“I find that the lead adviser was at best careless, but her actions can also be considered negligent,” Brisman found. (The adviser was not named.)

“She should have exercised greater attention to detail when selecting the photograph. She admittedly only ‘assumed’ it was the correct photograph,” he wrote in the report. “The photograph clearly has a number of students who are identifiably Muslim. Even accounting for diversity among students, this should have triggered greater awareness.

“Moreover, as an experienced educator, in light of domestic and international events,” Brisman added, the adviser “should have had a heightened sense of awareness and sensitivity surrounding students of Jewish ethnicity and/or faith.”

“This sensitivity also holds true for students of the Muslim faith, who were clearly identifiable by their dress and who were also mislabeled,” he wrote.


Jewish LGBT+ charity pulls out of London Pride march over safety fears
The Jewish community’s largest LGBT+ charity will not take part in the London Pride march this weekend after listening to members who “do not feel safe”, said its heads.

KeshetUK and West London Synagogue usually march in Pride London as part of a Jewish contingent and said they have “long valued” their place at the event.

But in a email sent jointly by KeshetUK and the Reform synagogue, organisers said: “Against the background of what has been a challenging and at times a complex year for many Jews in the UK, including LGBT+ Jews, some of our friends and congregants have said they do not feel safe marching in the Pride in London event as they have felt in previous years.”

The email added: “LGBT+ Jews need safe spaces for celebration, joy, and to feel pride in who we are. With this especially in mind, we have long valued our Jewish presence at Pride in London. We understand the importance of visibility.

“We have listened very carefully to those concerns expressed about the event. Our primary duty is to create a safe space where we can all feel joy, pride and community.

Organisers said that “sadly against this background”, instead of participating in the parade, West London Synagogue and KeshetUK would host a Pride Picnic.

They added: “Please be assured that our priority is for all of us to be together where we can celebrate happily without concern. We hope that you will join us along with those who have decided not to march.”
UK investigates reports staff harassed Israelis at Heathrow
The U.K.’s Home Office professional standards unit is looking into a report of harassment of Israeli travelers by customs officials at Heathrow International Airport.

Passengers arriving at Heathrow on an El Al flight from Ben Gurion International Airport made their way to the exit at around 10:30 p.m. on June 10, according to UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which filed the complaint with the Home Office that led to the opening of an investigation.

As one passenger described it to UKLFI: “We were walking towards the exit when a customs official appeared and asked a man in front of me what he had on his suitcase. The man replied that it was an Israeli flag. Immediately the customs official started shouting that everyone on the Israeli flight must go to the room on the left.”

“One traveler said ‘why us?’ The official didn’t reply. Another traveler said: ‘We are Jewish, why are you doing this to us?’ The official said ‘I’m a customs officer and I can do whatever I want,’” the passenger related.

Two officers were in the hallway, a man and a woman. The woman repeated, “We can do whatever we want.”

The Israelis had to take their luggage off their carts, and another airport staff member put them through a scanning machine. After that, the passengers were allowed to leave.

A second passenger on the same flight wrote a complaint to the Border Force, saying:

“I was very unpleasantly surprised to be very suddenly hurled aside with all other passengers from my flight from Israel. The officer gave no explanation, prevented anyone that came from Israel from coming through and forced us all to have all our baggages checked. Even the other officers were smiling uncomfortably, saying ‘I don’t know why she did that.'”

The passengers described feeling harassed and subjected to degrading treatment simply because they were Jewish.


Edinburgh bagel shop is ‘Zionist free zone’
A sign in the shop window of Moski’s Sandwich and Juice Bar says, “declare Leith a Zionist free zone.”

The cafe has been condemned for the poster, which many say is equivalent to a ban on Jews from the premises, but Moski’s has denied any accusations of discrimination.

On Monday, a petition was sent to the Uber chief executive to ask the company to drop the cafe from its food delivery app, Uber Eats.

The halal eatery just off Leith Walk sells smoked salmon bagels, hummus and falafel wraps, and turkey bacon.

According to a reporter for Israel’s Channel 12, Elad Simchayoff, the poster was reported to Police Scotland who said the incident was “not a hate crime.”

“I’m told the police were informed and deemed this is not a hate crime,” Simchayoff tweeted.


AP Sneakily Whitewashes Antisemitism in Coverage of French-Jewish Girl’s Rape
Last weekend, the Associated Press subtly whitewashed antisemitism in its coverage of the rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in France.

It did so in an otherwise well-written article covering the reactions to the rape in France, saying it brought “antisemitism to the fore” in the country’s politics and describing the victim’s account of how the rapists mentioned the word “Palestine” and insulted her with antisemitic slurs.

But the story’s last two paragraphs surprisingly undermine the very definition of antisemitism, and thus underhandedly legitimize certain aspects of it, particularly those which seem to have motivated the gang-rape.

Questioning Antisemitism
The problematic penultimate and concluding paragraphs — numbers 21 and 22 — seem to add a redundant, agenda-driven “bottom line” to the lengthy story:
Antisemitism refers to hatred of Jews, but there is no universally agreed definition of what exactly it entails or how it relates to criticism of Israel. The Israeli government regularly accuses its opponents of antisemitism, while critics say it uses the term to silence opposition to its policies.

The war has reignited the long debate about the definition of antisemitism and whether any criticism of Israel — from its military’s killing of thousands of Palestinian children to questions over Israel’s very right to exist — amounts to anti-Jewish hate speech.

Uninformed readers may think that these paragraphs are accurate, particularly because up to this point the article is relatively balanced (although unlike other outlets it calls the rape “alleged.”)

But that’s exactly why it’s underhanded: it diminishes the widely accepted definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), and thus whitewashes Jew-hatred:
First, by saying that “there is no universally agreed definition of what exactly it [antisemitism] entails or how it relates to criticism of Israel,” AP fails to mention that the IHRA definition is accepted by 43 countries and numerous non-governmental bodies. It also ignores the last element of the IHRA definition which clearly states that it’s antisemitic to hold Jews “collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.”

Second, AP suggests that by calling out antisemitism, Israel tries to silence “critics,” which is an implicit way to question the labeling of any antisemitic attack. Such a view can lead to the legitimization of real-life threats to Jews in Israel and abroad.

Third, AP comes close to violating the IHRA definition by implicitly questioning Israel’s right to exist and conflating Jew-hatred with Israel’s actions, such as the “killing of thousands of Palestinian children.” This, in turn, also subtly questions the labeling of the gang rape — during which the word “Palestine” was mentioned — as antisemitic.
Qatari Foreign Agents Secretly Paid $250K for PBS Documentary
Qatar, the oil-rich gulf monarchy that harbors Hamas and other terrorist groups, has used a number of conduits to influence unwitting American audiences: tens of millions of dollars in funding for universities, think tanks, military museums, and alleged bribes to prominent members of Congress. Add PBS documentaries to the list.

A Qatari-backed front group, Yemen Crisis Watch, paid $250,000 to travel journalist Burt Wolf from September 2017 to January 2018 for a documentary about the war in Yemen that aired on PBS affiliates, according to previously unreported filings with the Department of Justice. The documentary was part of Qatar’s sprawling propaganda operation against two adversaries, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, according to federal prosecutors.

In the 30-minute documentary, Doug Watts, a longtime Republican operative who founded Yemen Crisis Watch, touts the organization as "all about raising awareness" about humanitarian issues in Yemen stemming from a war between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition. Wolf ends the show with a rebuke of Westerners for failing to heed the message of religious leaders Jesus, Moses, and Buddha in relation to Yemen. "When you think about what’s going on in places like Yemen, you’ve got to wonder why people are not getting their message," said Wolf, who has produced thousands of travel shows for CNN, ABC, and public broadcasting.

It underscores the lengths to which Qatar goes to influence American policymakers and the public, while raising conflict of interest concerns for Wolf and PBS, which has aired numerous news stories decrying foreign disinformation and propaganda. Wolf did not respond to a request for comment.

Details of the propaganda scheme emerged as part of an investigation into Watts and his partner, Barry Bennett. The Qatari government paid more than $2 million to the operatives, who owned the firm Avenue Global Strategies, from September 2017 to January 2018 to operate Yemen Crisis Watch, which portrayed the Saudis as aggressors against Houthi rebels. Qatar, an ally of Iran, has been locked for years in a diplomatic standoff with the Saudis.

In addition to the documentary, the Qataris, through Yemen Crisis Watch, paid California-based pastor Robert Schuller $30,755 to write pro-Yemen op-eds and lobbied members of Congress in favor of Yemen, all without disclosing those activities to the Department of Justice.

Qatar has spent $6 billion since 2007 lobbying the American government and funneling cash to dozens of universities—including elite schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Yale—to burnish its image amid concerns over its human rights record and its support for terrorist groups like Hamas and the Taliban.
Times video promotes Hamas's unevidenced allegations
On June 22, The Times published an article about a recent IDF operation targeting Hamas leaders at military sites located in two Gaza City locations, (“Dozens dead’ after Israel airstrikes target Hamas leaders”), written by Anshel Pfeffer. The outlet also published a short YouTube video on June 23 about the same incident, titled “Israel’s twin attack kill at least 42 Palestinians in Gaza”.

The video has no narrator, consists almost entirely of scenes of rubble in the aftermath of the strike, as well as images of a few injured Palestinians, and includes a total of 25 words of text. Also, as you can see by this screen capture 17 seconds into the video, the footage was courtesy of the Turkish state media outlet, Anadolu Agency.

Whilst the piece by Pfeffer is generally fair, the YouTube video, available to the Times’ 614,000 subscribers, is indistinguishable from the context-free, Palestinian propaganda films that are ubiquitous on the platform.

For instance, Pfeffer’s news article informed readers that “Israel carried out a series of massive airstrikes in Gaza City on Saturday, aiming to kill a pair of senior Hamas commanders.“, and that “one of the targets that Israeli security officials believe they succeeded in killing was Ra’ad Saed, considered to be number four in the leadership hierarchy of Hamas“.

The video, on the other hand, doesn’t mention the Hamas and military targets, instead misleadingly informing viewers that the targets were a “house” and a “refugee camp”.
The knock-on effects of BBC accuracy failures
The BBC’s article continues with a description of another incident, again failing to clarify that it was a strike on Hamas terrorists:
“Last month an Israeli missile last month [sic] set fire to a camp for displaced Palestinians near the southern city of Rafah, reportedly killing 45 people including many children and sparking global outrage. The Israeli military said it had not expected such a fire to break out.”

In fact, preliminary investigations showed that the fire in Tel al Sultan had likely been caused by a secondary explosion at a Hamas weapons or fuel store rather than by “an Israeli missile”:

The report goes on:
“Israel has also been accused of delaying the entry of much-needed aid into Gaza, depriving those living on the Palestinian territory of clean water, food, medicines as well as fuel. It denies the accusation and accuses UN bodies and humanitarian organisations of failing to distribute aid that is allowed in.

The US-based famine early warning system network Fews Net says it is “possible, if not likely” that famine was happening in northern Gaza in April and an Israeli military operation in Rafah in southern Gaza was worsening food insecurity there.”

As documented here recently, in early June the IPC published a report titled “Famine Review Committee: Review of the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) IPC-Compatible Analysis for the Northern Governorates of the Gaza Strip” which has not received any coverage on the BBC News website. As noted by commentators, that report concludes that the FEWS NET analysis published in March is not plausible and points out the omission of certain categories of food deliveries.

This BBC report closes with the promotion of unverified claims from a Jordan-based spokesperson for the UN body which has failed to prevent terrorists from exploiting its schools and other facilities in the Gaza Strip:
“That operation has displaced more than a million Palestinians from Rafah, where they had sought refuge from fighting elsewhere in Gaza, and to sandy coastal areas or the city of Khan Younis, which is largely in ruins.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees Unrwa says the movement of such a large number of people in such a short timeframe alongside a sharp fall in aid deliveries is having deadly consequences.

“Children are dying due to malnutrition and dehydration,” Unrwa spokeswoman Juliette Touma said.”

BBC audiences are not told that Touma has been promoting such claims – including in BBC content – for at least six months or of the connection between that alleged “sharp fall in aid deliveries” and the fact that UNRWA (which recently restricted access to its database on aid) has admitted that it has been unable to deal with looting by criminal gangs and Hamas, despite the existence of a UN Department of Safety and Security.

As we see, this report has remarkably little to tell BBC audiences about its stated subject matter and the overwhelming majority of its word-count simply recycles inaccuracies and omissions found in previous BBC reports. The BBC’s failure to conduct effective fact-checking together with its uncritical promotion of unverified claims from obviously unreliable sources such as the ‘health ministry’ run by a terrorist organisation clearly does not serve the interests of its funding public.
Channel 4 News promotes Al Jazeera's 'war on Gazan children' propaganda
A Channel 4 News report (Israel Hamas war: the sick and desperate children stuck in Gaza ) by foreign correspondent Secunder Kermani includes video of a sick, emaciated eight-year-old Palestinian girl who died recently in Gaza. Those considering watching it should know that the images in question (which begin 23 seconds into the video) are disturbing. The suffering or death of children during wartime, be they Israeli or Palestinian, is especially tragic, and should never be minimised.

However, our focus is on the unevidenced suggestion made by the Channel 4 News presenter during the broadcast that the girl, Hanan Al-Zaanin, died due to starvation related to Israel’s ‘restrictions on aid’.

Origins of the claim:
The initial story claiming that Al-Zaanin died in Gaza due to starvation was published by Al Jazeera. In fact, the short footage of Al-Zaanin shown to Channel 4 News viewers appears to be spliced from a report at Qatar’s Al Jazeera. Yet, viewers aren’t told that the story – including the relevant video footage – comes from the Qatari outlet.

The Al Jazeera report in question is by Hind Al Khoudary, who, as we’ve noted previously, is a freelancer at the Qatari outlet, as well as at Turkish state-run Andalou Agency. Khoudary, who was one of the presenters in a Channel 4 Dispatches report (Kill Zone; Inside Gaza), has a record of glorifying terrorism on social media. She’s also remembered for her involvement in the arrests by Hamas of several activists – including a journalist – in Gaza four years ago. The Palestinian activists were denounced to Hamas in a series of vituperative Facebook posts by Khoudary. Hours later, Hamas arrested them for the crime of pursuing “normalization” with Israelis.”

In addition, Khoudary works for the ‘We Are Not Numbers’ project run by the Hamas-linked NGO EuroMed Human Rights Monitor (EMHRM). In fact, the Chairman of EMHRM, Ramzy Abdul, who’s among the extremist activists who’ve shared the Al Jazeera video report of Al-Zaanin’s death, was found to have posted a literal antisemitic blood libel – writing on X that “Israeli has an insatiable appetite for the blood of Palestinian children”, before deleting the post.

We weren’t able to find any other mainstream media outlet which reported on the Palestinian girls’ death – not even the Guardian.
Media group: ‘Difficult decision’ to revoke award from pro-Hamas writer with ‘undeniable courage’
The International Women’s Media Foundation announced the winners of its 35th Annual Courage in Journalism Awards on June 10, an event that honors “remarkable bravery in the pursuit of reporting,” and is backed by Bank of America.

One of the 2024 winners, per an archived version of the page, was “Maha Hussaini, a Palestinian freelance journalist” and “multimedia journalist,” who “faces daily threats to her life while covering the Israel-Hamas war from her homeland of Gaza. Despite displacement, and enduring a physically debilitating aerial assault, Hussaini continues to report, most often for Middle East Eye.”

On June 18, the Washington Free Beacon reported that Hussaini had “approvingly posted antisemitic cartoons that were drawn by the first- and second-place winners of Iran’s 2006 International Holocaust Cartoon Contest” and wrote “glory to the martyrs” after Palestinian terrorists killed two Israeli border officers in 2017.

In 2021, Hussaini wrote of “our resistance” bombing “the occupation again,” per the Free Beacon, which reported that Suzanne Malveaux, the foundation’s board chair, is a former romantic partner of White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

The foundation’s board includes MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, CBS News’s Norah O’Donnell, ABC News’s Kerry Smith and Bank of America’s Jessica Oppenheim, the publication added.

Hussaini also wrote that “whether we like it or not, Hamas constitutes [sic] a large part of the Palestinian society” and “condemning it doesn’t only mean opposing a political party but criminalizing people’s choice to resist oppression,” per the Free Beacon.
Diplomatic Controversies and Lazy ‘Journalism’ at CNN
Netanyahu claimed a “dramatic drop” began “about four months ago.” Senator Cotton’s explanation roughly aligns with this timeline, pointing out that “it appears that you stopped acknowledging the emergency in Israel after receiving a letter from nearly twenty congressional Democrats in January.”

Blinken claimed “[w]e continue to move these different cases through our system on regular order.” Senator Cotton’s letter provides an explanation for how this language may be technically true, but does not actually contradict Prime Minister Netanyahu’s claim. According to the senator, the administration has “manipulated” legal requirements by withholding “formal notification to Congress” so they can claim “that the weapons are ‘in process’ while never delivering them.” The letter similarly adds clarity to Blinken’s claim that “it takes a long time to move these things.” Senator Cotton contends that this is misleading because the administration has the power to expedite the process, which it was exercising, but “stopped acknowledging the emergency in Israel.” In doing so, Senator Cotton explains, the administration willingly added unnecessary steps to slow down the process.

Of course, Senator Cotton is a political opponent of the administration, and so his remarks must also be subjected to scrutiny. But given his knowledge of the subject and his clear explanation of what is happening, the inclusion of at least some of his letter in reporting on this subject should’ve been a no-brainer for truth-seeking journalists aiming to inform the public. The CNN audience would have benefited from these details, which cut through the careful, but uninformative, diplomatic speak of the two sides, and help make sense of the competing claims. At the very least, Senator Cotton’s letter raises enough plausible explanations and questions that it should’ve spurred the journalists to investigate further.

Instead, the CNN authors found it sufficient to largely copy and paste from competing statements without adding any value.

To call this lazy journalism isn’t entirely accurate, though. After all, we know that the network will work overtime to concoct bizarre “investigative” reporting riddled with holes, dubious claims, and thin evidence. The amount of effort devoted seems to depend on who the story makes look good or bad.
MSNBC Mislabels Northern Israeli Communities ‘Settlements’
In his June 14 report on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Keir Simmons erroneously referred to locations within internationally-recognized Israeli territory in the north of the country as “settlements.” He erred: “Just this morning, we count three Israeli settlements targeted by Hezbollah rockets.”

On the morning of June 14, Hezbollah launched rockets at the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona and the village of Kfar Szold. They are neither in the West Bank nor in the Israeli Golan Heights (which Syria claims but which the United States recognizes as Israeli).

Neither Kiryat Shmona nor Kfar Szold is a “settlement,” which refers to Israeli communities over the Green Line in the disputed West Bank. Kfar Szold was founded in the early 1940s, even before the State of Israel, and Kiryat Shmona was founded in 1949, nearly two decades before the Six Day War. (Following the Six Day War in 1967, Israeli settlements were founded in the West Bank and pre-existing Jewish communities in the West Bank which were decimated during 1948 war were re-established.)


In The Conversation Column, Sociology Lecturer Ignorantly Labels Israel A “Settler-Colonial” State
One of the favourite tactics of anti-Israel activists, in attempting to spread their nonsensical anti-Israel disinformation, is rote repetition of meaningless phrases in the attempt to give them credibility.

A June 18 opinion column entitled: “Canada’s settler colonial violence in three acts: Calls for solidarity on National Indigenous Peoples Day,” published in TheConversation.com, by Katie MacDonald, an associate professor of sociology at Athabasca University, demonstrated this strategy well.

MacDonald, part of a long line of sociology lecturers to pen asinine anti-Israel drivel in the Canadian news media, mentioned the phrase “settler colonial” 14 times in her screed, used National Indigenous Peoples Day to lambaste Israel, perhaps the best contemporary example of decolonization in modern history, and instead had the temerity to accuse Israel of being a “settler colonial” state.

MacDonald wrote that “in Palestine, settler colonial violence has involved the destruction of homes since the onset of the Nakba.”

What MacDonald dishonestly hid from readers is that “the Nakba,” the hateful expression used by anti-Israel activists, which means “catastophe” in Arabic and which refers to Israel’s independence in 1948 as an event worth mourning, took place because following Israel’s independence, the country was attacked by neighbouring Arab country, seeking to annihilate the newly reborn Jewish State.

One cannot – without abandoning intellectual honesty, as MacDonald has – lay the blame for the consequences of Israel’s War of Independence without even so much as acknowledging that it was Israel’s Arab neighbours who started the war in an unprovoked act of genocidal intent.

Consequently, losing a war that one started does not classify as “settler colonialism.” In reality, it would be best classified under “actions that have consequences.”


Recent Attacks Should Dispel Any Hopes of Expanding Palestinian Sovereignty in the West Bank
On Saturday, a sixty-seven-year-old Israeli named Amnon Muchtar was shot in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, in what authorities are treating as a terrorist attack. Although Israelis are officially banned from entering this Palestinian city (a regulation I have never heard compared to apartheid), Muchtar regularly visited to buy vegetables and visit friends. This incident should cause some Westerners to reconsider their assumptions about the West Bank. Even more significant, although less deadly, is an attack that happened previously. Moshe Phillips writes:

Hamas terrorists standing within the municipal boundaries of Tulkarm, a Palestinian Authority-governed city, unleashed a barrage of gunfire aimed at the nearby Israeli town of Bat Hefer. Then they posted a video of the shooting on social media. It was the third such shooting attack on Bat Hefer in two weeks; . . . there have been similar attacks targeting Kibbutz Meirav, which is next to the PA city of Jenin. Once again, terrorists within the boundaries of the city were able to shoot into an Israeli community without ever having to go beyond the borders of their PA-ruled city.

The PA has a huge police and security force. . . . Yet the PA refuses to use its forces against terrorists. It treats Hamas like its brothers, not its enemies. So the shooters in Tulkarm and Jenin went on their merry way.

Right now, when the PA is not a sovereign state, the entry of Israeli forces into PA areas results in angry UN resolutions and angry articles by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times, but nothing worse than that. But things would be very, very different if . . . the terrorists shooting at Bat Hefer or Kibbutz Meirav would be shooting from within sovereign Palestinian territory: Israel would be crossing an international border if it tried to chase the shooters.
Thailand to send farm workers to Israel for first time since Hamas attacks
Thailand will resume sending agricultural workers to Israel this week after an eight-month hiatus, the Thai labor ministry said on Monday, with a target of having more than 10,000 of its citizens working in the country by year-end.

Around 30,000 Thai laborers had been working in the agriculture sector, comprising one of the largest migrant worker groups in Israel, before the conflict broke out last October.

Caught in the fighting when Palestinian Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 39 Thais were killed and another 32 were taken hostage, according to the Thai government. Israel to ensure safety of workers

Six of them are believed to remain in captivity.

"The government asked for the cooperation of the Israeli government to help emphasize to employers to take care of the safety of Thai workers," the labor ministry said in a statement.

The first batch of around 100 workers will fly out from the capital Bangkok on Tuesday, followed by another group in early July.

Many Thais, particularly from the rural northeast region, have sought employment in Israel drawn by higher wages and an opportunity to work their way out of ballooning debt, a gnawing issue for millions in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.
Palestinian Olympic Committee Head Says Israel Should Be Banned From 2024 Paris Games
Palestinian Olympic Committee President Jibril Rajoub is calling for Israel to be banned from the 2024 Olympic Games because of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war just over a month before the competition begins in Paris.

“I’m sure that Israel’s participation will be a political burden, a security burden, and a moral burden on the Olympic Games,” Rajoub said in a newly published interview with Germany’s state-funded broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).

Rajoub also claimed that Israel’s military actions during the ongoing war in Gaza violate aspects of the Olympic Charter, the set of rules for the Olympic Games to which participants must adhere. In one allegation, he claimed that the Israeli military has destroyed most sporting facilities in the Gaza Strip, and has used the remaining venues as “centers for arrest and investigation and for the humiliation of people in a shameful way.”

“All of these incidents put Israel in a position where it should be prevented from participating,” Rajoub told DW. “This is our position here. We hope that the Olympic movement shuts out Israel. As long as the Israeli side is not willing to confront the government about its transgressions, they are part of the system.”

Rajoub also criticized Israeli athletes who are supportive of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including judoka Peter Paltchik, who will compete in the Olympics this year for the second time. Following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, Paltchik shared on social media a photo of several missiles that were signed with messages — including one that compared Hamas to the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization and also said “Ippon,” which is the highest score achievable in judo and immediately ends a match. Paltchik wrote in the caption of the photo, “From me to you with pleasure #HamasisISIS #IsraelAtWar.”

Commenting on Patchik’s social media post, Rajoub told DW, “He is signing missiles and sending them as a gift to the children of Gaza.”

However Israel’s Judo Federation defended Patchik.

“Peter didn’t sign anything himself. Hamas is the one who targets civilians and uses them as human shelters [sic], not Israel’s army,” the federation told DW. “In the picture, the words are: ‘Hamas is ISIS,’ nothing about children and civilians.”
PMW: PA salary crisis: How bad is it and who is to blame?
It is hard to imagine how unpredictable life must be for Palestinian Authority employees and their families because the PA prioritizes the rewarding of terrorists rather than the payment of salaries to its working civil servants. According to the PA’s official daily, PA employees are poverty-stricken:
“[Since 2019] out of solidarity (i.e., with the terrorists), the [PA] employees have received only half of the monthly salary. In other words, with the passage of more than five years, this employee is defined as one of the poor of society.”

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida website, June 8, 2024]

Why didn’t the PA stop paying salaries to imprisoned terrorists and families of terrorist “Martyrs,” and save the Palestinian civil servants from poverty?
“The PA insisted on continuing to pay these salaries, because it cannot do otherwise… The PA will not do this (i.e., stop paying terrorists) because if it had done so, it would have admitted that these people are terrorists, as Israel claims… “

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida website, June 8, 2024]

PA employees literally don't know what their take-home pay will be from month to month or when they will receive it. Salaries are so erratic that even the partial 50% that they received in mid-June was not the May salary but was for April—a month and a half late.

The following PMW chart and table review the PA cuts in salaries in many of the months since 2019:


Fatah postpones Palestinian unity meeting with Hamas in China, no new date set
Reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah due to be held in China this month have been delayed and no new date has been set, officials of the Palestinian factions told Reuters on Monday.

After hosting a meeting of Palestinian factions in April, China said Fatah — which is led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas — and Hamas had expressed the will to seek reconciliation through unity talks in Beijing. Fatah and Hamas officials had previously said the meeting would take place in mid-June.

With the factions deeply divided, analysts had held out little hope of the talks achieving a breakthrough toward a reconciliation deal that could create a unified Palestinian administration for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim, who had attended the previous meeting, told Reuters the meeting was postponed and no new date had been set for another meeting, blaming Fatah, which, he said, had requested the delay.


MEMRI: Afghan Women's Groups Urge Boycott Of Doha Meeting: Doha Has Been 'An Unholy Place And A Bitter Platform For The People Of Afghanistan'; 'The Taliban Have Violated And Trampled All Values, International Covenants, And The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights'
In view of Afghan Taliban policies banning girls and women from schools, colleges, and universities and from running businesses such as beauty salons, walking alone in streets, or working in offices, women's groups in Afghanistan recently demanded a boycott of the Third Doha Meeting, June 30-July 1, 2024, to be held in the capital of Qatar. According to a June 13 media report, the Independent Coalition of Afghan Women's Protest Movements called for a total boycott of the Doha meeting, stating that Doha has emerged as an "unholy place" and a "bitter platform" as far as the people of Afghanistan and their rights are concerned.

On June 2, the Women's Council of the National Resistance Front (NRF) of Afghanistan, a major anti-Taliban resistance group, also called for a boycott of the Doha meeting. "Meetings about Afghanistan can be effective when they are held with the presence of real representatives of the Afghan people, while the Taliban, who came to power through war, killing and bargaining, do not deserve this position," it stated.

Following is a translation of the Dari-language text of the June 13 statement:
"The Independent Coalition Of Afghan Women's Protest Movements Has Demanded That The Taliban Officials Be Prosecuted By The International Court For Suppressing Women And Girls"

"The Position Of Protesting Women In Response To The Doha Meeting: Doha Has Been A Bitter Platform For The People Of Afghanistan.

"A group of protesting women, in the form of the Independent Coalition of Afghan Women's Protest Movements, has taken a position regarding the holding of the third round of the Doha meeting. The Independent Coalition of Afghan Women's Protest Movements has said that it 'boycotts any meeting, understanding, and interaction with the Taliban'...

"By issuing a resolution, this coalition called Doha 'an unholy place and a bitter platform for the people of Afghanistan.' The Independent Coalition of Afghan Women's Protest Movements has demanded that the Taliban officials be prosecuted by the international court for suppressing women and girls. The Coalition's resolution states: 'The Taliban have violated and trampled all values, international covenants, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.'


Taliban Offers Thousands of Fighters to Help Iran's Proxy, Hezbollah, Fight Israel
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban has announced their intention to deploy thousands of troops and join forces against Israel with Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon.

The Taliban have access to the millions of dollars’ worth of weapons left by US forces when they withdrew from the country in August 2021. It is likely the Taliban fighters would bring at least some of the military vehicles and ordnance with them to Lebanon if they join the war against Israel.

According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), the Taliban and Iran cooperated in the operation to oust US forces from Afghanistan and overthrow the Afghan government.

Taliban leaders have promised Iranian officials to send fighters to Lebanon in support of Hezbollah against Israel, according to a June 13 report by Hassan Ala’a Hassan, a senior reporter with the Hezbollah-run Al Akhbar newspaper.

According to the report, the Taliban regime notified Iranian authorities that if needed, it will send thousands of fighters to fight against Israel and to support Tehran’s proxy groups in the Middle East, including the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist organizations.


MEMRI: IRGC Commander Hossein Salami: 'We Are Living In An Era In Which God Has Given A Clear Victory To The Front Of Islam... In Recent Decades, We Have Had Unceasing Jihad [Holy War] And Unstoppable And Ongoing War With The Arrogant Regime [The U.S.] And Its Partners'
In two speeches in early May 2024, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami spoke about the successes of Iran and the Islamic Revolution against Western civilization, the U.S. (aka "the arrogance"), and especially Israel.

Pointing at the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which is referred to by Iran and Hamas as "Al-Aqsa Flood," and Iran's April 14, 2024 missile and drone attack on Israel, Salami noted that Iran was waging a holy war – jihad – against Israel and against the West headed by America. The purpose of this jihad against Israel, he said, is to destroy it, and the two successful operations led by Iran against Israel prove that this goal is at hand. He went on to say that the jihad against the West and America is being waged because they want "to control the entire Islamic world, and to eradicate their cultural identity." He also said that the U.S.'s political influence was waning and that it was vulnerable.

Although the Iranian regime played up the fact that it had never initiated a war against its neighbors, Salami's words reveal the raison d'etre of the messianic regime of Iran's Islamic Revolution – that is, waging perpetual and unbridled holy war against Western civilization via takeovers of Sunni Arab lands, and the first target in this jihad is Israel. All this is under the guidance of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is divinely inspired, guides the army of Islam, and reaps successes.

This report will review these two speeches by Salami, on May 1 and May 7, 2024:
Salami's Speech On May 1, 2024: "The Zionist Regime Suffered An Intelligence Failure In The Al-Aqsa Flood, And In [Operation] True Promise, It Suffered A Deterrence Failure"

At a May 1, 2024 appreciation ceremony for Iran's Teachers' Day at the IRGC General Command headquarters in Tehran, Salami praised Iran's April 14 drone and missile attack on Israel and noted that while Iran had responded to Israel in a limited and measured way and had targeted one minor location, Israel and the West that defends it had deployed forces across the region without any element of surprise. He hinted that Israel's defenders had been notified of the attack in advance. Salami clarified that the Iranian superpower was standing fast against the global forces and that it was up to facing them, thanks to the superior figure of its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who draws his inspiration from God and transfers His plans to the Iranian people, the IRGC, and the Qods Force.

Salami said: "[Operation] True Promise [the drone and missile attack on Israel] was a display of the will of the Iranian nation. The will of the Iranian nation was given expression and concentrated in the will of the leader of the Iranian nation. Leadership is the expression of the will of God and the will of the people, and recognition of the value of the regime of the velayat [-e faqih, the Rule of the Jurisprudent], which is the will of God.

"In Operation True Promise, everyone experienced new glory and authority. The Zionist regime suffered an intelligence failure in the Al-Aqsa Flood, and in True Promise, it suffered a deterrence failure. We are living in an era in which God has given a clear victory to the front of Islam. God has given us the ability and the talent to be a receptacle of the divine blessings in these critical, sensitive, and decisive times of the Islamic Revolution.

"Everyone knows that in the recent decades we have had unceasing jihad and unstoppable and ongoing war with the arrogant regime [the U.S.] and its partners in the various coalitions. Our enemy had many different strategies against us, and used them in various ways against the glorious revolution and our sacred regime. It opened all the directions of battle, and examined all the ways to overcome the [Iranian] regime. All these battles were full-scale and with the maximum possible use of force. The enemy did not cease its hostility anywhere – not on the horizon of time, not in the scope of space, and not in the intensity of activity.

"The enemy came to the [battle]field by all possible means, from war outside [Iran's borders] to the phenomenon of harsh economic sanctions to terrorism, battles, the apostasy [of ISIS], intelligence wars, instigating security [rebellions], invasions of the culture, and media wars. It tried all these ways, and confronted the [Islamic] revolution with grave risks at various times."
'I want to believe Israel won't wake up with Iran having a nuclear bomb'
Mossad operative G. has had many a heart-pounding moment as an intelligence officer and agent handler in enemy countries. The most emotional and scary moment, however, was on the last Independence Day at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem lighting a torch as a representative of the secret intelligence organization.

In the closed ceremony, filmed before broadcast, on a podium alongside 43 further representatives, she was faceless, ageless and with no identity. It simply said that she was born in Iran and that she had contributed to Israel’s security in the Iranian field.

“I didn’t wear my own clothes,” she reveals. “I wore a scarf covering my neck, sunshades and a mask. I wore no jewelry that could be identified in any other situation. No Mossad representative has ever lit a torch before. I was in a whirlwind for two days leading up to the ceremony. I’m still overwhelmed.”

Take me back to the phone call from Mossad Director David Barnea.

“I was home. The TV was on and I’d just made myself coffee. My husband was there. The children weren’t. Then, the Mossad chief called. I knew where it was going as before the final decision was made, my commanders had told me that - along with others - my name had been put forward. I was then notified that the Mossad chief had chosen me. He called me only after the committee had approved my selection. Being informed directly by him was very exciting.”

You must have known him before he became Mossad director.

“I had worked with him. He was head of Tzomet, the division responsible for locating, recruiting and handling foreign agents worldwide. I’ve been in Tzomet my whole life. I’ve had a lot of meetings and conversations with him. Sometimes he berated me, sometimes he complimented me. The Mossad director was an intelligence officer, as was his predecessor, Yossi Cohen. It’s a role that lets you reach your full potential.

“It’s important for me to say that I represent the Mossad, not myself, but rather everyone working for the Mossad. It’s not the Israel Defense Prize awarded to me personally. I’ve done things, very important things. That’s why I joined the Mossad. But on that podium, I wasn’t myself. For seven months, we’ve been seeing and hearing about amazing heroes all around us and lighting a torch is for great heroes. It was 48 hours before I could move or even talk about it.”
Iran, Bahrain agree to discuss restoring ties in latest Gulf-Tehran thaw
Iran and Bahrain have agreed to launch negotiations on how to restore diplomatic relations that have been severed for nearly eight years, the Iranian foreign ministry said Monday.

Tiny Gulf monarchy Bahrain cut ties with Iran in 2016, following in the footsteps of regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia after Riyadh’s diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked by angry protesters denouncing the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite Muslim cleric.

Iran’s acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri, met on Sunday with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani on the sidelines of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue summit in Tehran, according to the two countries’ foreign ministries.

“In this meeting, the two sides agreed to create the necessary mechanisms to start the talks between the two countries to examine how to resume political relations,” they said in a joint statement.

The visit by the Bahraini top diplomat was his second in less than a month, after attending the funerals of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who died in a helicopter crash in May along with six others.

Shiite-majority Iran and the Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia resumed ties in 2023 in a Chinese-brokered agreement that has shifted regional alliances.


German far-right politician on trial again for alleged use of Nazi Stormtrooper slogan
A prominent German far-right politician who plans to run for the governor’s job in an eastern state later this year went on trial for the second time Monday on charges of knowingly using a Nazi slogan at a political event.

Björn Höcke was fined 13,000 euros ($13,900) last month for using symbols of an unconstitutional organization, a verdict that his lawyers are appealing against. The trial that opened Monday at the state court in Halle involves a second alleged use of the same slogan.

The first case centered on a speech in Merseburg in May 2021 in which Höcke, a high-profile figure in the Alternative for Germany party, used the phrase “Everything for Germany!”

Judges agreed with prosecutors’ argument that he was aware of its origin as a slogan of the Nazis’ SA stormtroopers. Höcke, a former history teacher, has said he’s innocent and argued it was an “everyday saying.” His lawyers are appealing against the verdict.

The second count against Höcke was added to his first trial shortly before it opened, but judges then decided to try it separately because his defense team had recently changed.

Prosecutors allege that he repeated the offense at an Alternative for Germany, or AfD, event in Gera last December, “in certain knowledge” that using the slogan is a criminal offense.

They say that Höcke said “Everything for …” and encouraged the audience to shout “Germany!”


10 NATO armies buy Kibbutz Yagur's Smartshooter AI sights
Smash smart fire control systems are designed for hitting ground and aerial targets, such as UAVs, while helping the combat soldiers who operate them identify targets independently and hit them accurately.

One of the most lethal developments used by Israeli ground forces during their maneuvers is the Smash series of scopes and smart fire control systems made by Kibbutz Yagur's Smartshooter. The ZM website reports that armies in Europe and Latin America are expressing interest in the system, which has already been sold to more than 10 countries that are members of the NATO alliance, including the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.

Smash smart fire control systems are designed for hitting ground and aerial targets, such as UAVs, while helping the combat soldiers who operate them identify targets independently and hit them accurately. With the help of artificial intelligence and algorithms, the scope follows the target and adapts the rate of fire in favor of a quick and accurate hit.

The latest product recently unveiled by Smartshooter as part of the Smash series is the Hopper, a remote control weapon system. The system, according to the company, allows for rapid deployment and requires only one shot for a hit. This system, which weighs about 15 kilograms, is designed for installation in manned and unmanned vehicles, as well as aerial and marine platforms.




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